Electric switch unit



R. N. ROWE ELECTRIC SWITCH UNIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 10, 1950 Filed sept. s, 1948 INSULATION Jan. l0, 1950 ELECTRIC SWITC5-HNIT Filed Sept. 8, A1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INSULATION 4a y/ 48 @4 INSULATION Inventor: Raymond NRowe,

R. N. RowE 2,494,315

Patented Jan. 10, 1950 ELECTRIC SWITCH UNIT Raymond N. Rowe, Plainville, Conn., assignor to The "Trumbull Electric Manufacturing Company, Plainville, Conn.,

nccticut .a corporationo'f v(Jon- Application September 8, 1948, -Serial No. 48,270

5 Claims. l

My invention relates to thefcircuit opening and closing mechanism of .a switch which is adapted to be actuatedby `suitable Vmechanism such as set forth in my application .Serial Number 73,i94 `filed Novemberll, 1946.

"Such units must Abesimple, `compact and effective and readily assembled on a base usually with one or more similar units. In -other words the unit is completely assembled for insertion in a single line independent of other lines. Each unit has its own protective fuse.

The main object of the present invention is to provide simple mechanism that is durable, eiiective and self contained and when assembled with other similar units is unaffected by them.

A special object is to provide a movable switch member which is capable of withstanding repeated operations without damage.

Another object is to ensure smooth operation of the switch member without damage of arcing.

Fig. 1 is a side view and partial section of a switch unit embodying my invention, the parts being shown in the open Circuit position.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section and plan on the plane of the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view on the plane of the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view on the plane of the line 4--4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side view and partial section showing on a larger scale the switch parts in the closed circuit position.

Fig. 6 is -an exploded perspective view showing parts of the switch unit.

The side plates I0, I0 are formed of suitable insulating material and serve to support the various other parts in perforations or recesses suitably located to receive them. For instance the circuit terminal strap II has a switch contact I.2 and is supported by lugs I3, I4 and I5 upset in the perforations I3', I4' and I5 on each side plate. The other terminal strap I6 has a fuse clip support I1 and they are supported by lugs I3 and I9 in the recesses I8 and I9. The switch contact 20 opposite I2 is integrally connected to the fuse clip support 2| and they are supported by the lugs 22 and 23 in the recesses 22 and 23.

The supports I'l and 2l carry respectively the fuse clips 24 and 25. Support 2| may have provisions for attachment at either of two points `2li or 26' so as to accommodate clips for either of two sizes of fuses, edges of the side plates being cut away at I0', I0 to provide clearance for the attaching screws.

The movable switch member consists of the contact 4member 30, the guide 3l, the saddle 32 34'fataeach side by'which 'it is guided in a slot 35 'of/a side plate Ill andside arms 35, '3l to embrace the operating vcrank siiaftii (Figs. l and 2). A pointer 34' may be provided on the end of one of the extensions.

The side pieces 33, 33 have notches 39, 3S to position the extensions 34, 34 of the saddle and recess 4G', 4I to receive the lugs 40, 4I.

The guide member 3| has two parallel arms 42, 42 spaced apart at one end and connected at the other where it has projections 43 which fit in holes 43 in the side pieces of the switch member.

The lugs 44, 44 of the guide member fit in the notches 44 of the side pieces. The switch member 30 yalso has two arms 45, 45 connected at 46 where it is held between the arm 36 of the saddle 32 and the end of the guide member 3l. The free ends 45 are guided laterally between the side plates I0, I0 and biased away from each other in order to provide a spring pressure against the f stationary contacts l2 and 2l! when the circuit is closed.

Between the contacts I2 and 2B is located an insulating barrier 47 whose edges are positioned in the slots 4l', 41' of the side plates Ill, Ill and centered by the shoulders 48, 48 between the plates I, I0. The two arms 42, 42 of the guide member 3l slide above and below this barrier 4'! so as to ensure proper action of the switch member 3U. Adjacent the contacts I2 and 20 is an insulating back stop 48 which is slotted and interlocked with a slotted end 49 at the end of the barrier 41 and positioned between the side plates Ill, Ill and extends above and below the contacts I2 and 2l).

Above and below the path of movement when the switch member 3l! leaves the contacts I2 and 2G I provide arc dissipating guide members 50, Eil of metal which are positioned in the holes 5t', Ell. I also provide an insulating barrier 5l positioned in the recesses 5I', 5I of the side plates l0, I0 to assist in snuiiing any arc that might tend to form when the circuit is opened.

I claim:

l.. A switch unit comprising insulating side plates, two spaced contacts mounted between said. plates, an insulating barrier plate extending between said contacts, a guide member having arms guided by said barrier plate, to slide above and below said barrier plate, side pieces mounted between said side plates and supporting said guide member, a switch member connected to said guide member and a saddle connecting said side pieces and supporting said switch member and slidable between said side plates.

2. A switch unit comprising insulating side plates, two spaced contacts mounted between said plates, a barrier plate extending between said contacts, a saddle slidably supported in said side plates, a guide member having arms guided above and below said barrier plate and a resilient switch member mounted between said guide member and said saddle and having arms for coacting with the spaced contacts.

3. A switch unit comprising insulating side plates, two spaced contacts mounted between said plates, a barrier plate extending between said contacts, a saddle slidably supported in said side plates, a guide member having arms guided above and below said barrier plate, side pieces mounted on said saddle and supporting said guide member and a switch member mounted between said guide member and said saddle and positioned between said side pieces.

4. A switch unit comprising insulating side plates, two spaced contacts mounted between said plates, an insulating barrier plate extending between said contacts, a. saddle slidably supported in said side plates, a. guide member having arms guided above and below said barrier plate and a switch member connected to said guide member and said saddle and having arms for coacting with the spaced contacts.

5. A switch unit comprising insulating side plates, two spaced contacts mounted between said plates, an insulating barrier plate extending between said contacts, a member slidably supported in said side plates, a guide member having arms guided above and below said barrier plate, side pieces mounted on said slidable member and connected to said guide member and a switch member connected to said guide member and positioned between said side pieces.

RAYMOND N. ROWE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,217,024 Millermaster Oct. 8, 1940 2,448,650 Aitken Sept. 7, 1948 

